Sallins

Na Solláin which means "The Willows".

The village of Sallins is located about four miles north of Naas in County Kildare, it is the 10th largest town in Kildare and the 90th in Eire, the 2006 census recorded a population of 3,806

Sallins grew as a result of it's proximity to the Grand Canal and the Dublin to Cork railway opened in Sallins on 4 August 1846. The station became the location of Irelands largest train robbery, when on March 31, 1976 several hundred thousand pounds where stolen from a Córas Iompair Éireann train. Several people with Republican connections were jailed for the robbery but the the case became the centre of a miscarriage of justice enquiry.

Theobald Wolfe Tone famous for his part in the 1798 rebellion is buried near Sallins village in Bodenstown graveyard. Each summer, Irish Republicans of various political and paramilitary groupings congregate at Sallins to hold commemorations at Tone's grave.

Historically, the major employers in the village were Odlum's Flour Mills, the company is still in existenceand the meat factory, although the latter is now closed.

There is an extensive retail business park on the east side of the town, many of the units stand vacant

The village's railway station serves both Sallins itself and neighbouring Naas, as reflected in its official name of "Sallins and Naas". Originally named just "Sallins", and was the junction for the Tullow branch, which included the original Naas station. It closed in 1963, and was renamed Sallins & Naas upon re-opening in 1994. as part of the Kildare "Arrow" commuter rail project.

Sallins GAA has its grounds in the centre of the village which include a championship sized pitch, a modern club house and dressing rooms. The GAA club has been in existence since 1885.

The canal which bisects the village is popular for fishing and boating. There are many canal barges moored in Sallins, some of them serving as permanent residences.

The Leinster Aqueduct is situated nearby. It is located mid-way along the canal between Sallins and Caragh. This is the point where the Grand Canal crosses the River Liffey. Each year since 2004 during August, the Sallins Community Festival is held which includes some local activities, the most notable being a beauty contest called Queen of the Waterways.

Take a walk along the Walks by the Grand Canal from Sallins to Digby Bridge, 8 Km advice and information here.